The Arab Open University (AOU) is a non-profit university. The inception of AOU is a personal initiative by Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Chairman of the AOU Board of Trustees. In December 2000, Kuwait was designated to host the Headquarters of AOU. The AOU first phase was launched in October 2002 in three branches: Kuwait, Lebanon and Jordan. Branches in Bahrain, Egypt and Saudi Arabia were opened in 2003. Branches were opened in Oman in February 2008 and in Sudan in September 2013. In May 2015, AOU signed an agreement of opening a new branch in Palestine with the Palestinian Ministry of Higher Education. Academic programmes Under the partnership agreement with the Open University, UK, AOU offers a range of academic programmes taught in English: Undergraduate Programmes BA Programme (Hons) in Business Administration (BA), offered in one of the following tracks: Management Marketing Accounting Accounting (Arabic Systems Practice BSc Programme (Hons) in Information Technology and Computing (ITC), offered in one of the following tracks: Information Technology and Computing (ITC) Computing (C) Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Computing with Business (CwB) BSc Programme (Hons) in Graphic and Multimedia Design (in some of AOU's branches) BA Programme (Hons) in English language & Literature (ELL): Translation Track BA Programme (Hons) in English Language and Literature with Business (ELL with BS) BA Programme (Hons) in Media is offered in the following specializations (Egypt Branch): Electronic Media Radio and Television Public Relations And offered in the following tracks: Electronic Media (Track) (Jordan & Lebanon) Public Relations (Track) (Jordan) BA Programme (Hons) in Education in Elementary Education BA Programme (Hons) in Special Education / Learning Disabilities BA Programme (Hons) in Special Education, offered in two tracks: Learning Disabilities Mental Retardation Postgraduate Programmes (in some of AOU's branches) Master of Business Administration (MBA) MSc in Computing Programme MSc in Computing – Information Security and Forensics Postgraduate Diploma in Computing*MA in English Literature*High/General Diploma in Education Master of Education in Education Technology Master of Education in Educational Leadership Branches In alphabetical order: References Education in the Middle East Private universities and colleges in Saudi Arabia Universities in Bahrain Universities in Egypt Universities in Oman Universities and colleges in Sudan Education in Amman Education in Beirut Education in Cairo Education in Jeddah Education in Khartoum Education in Riyadh 2002 establishments in Saudi Arabia Educational institutions established in 2002 Organizations based in Kuwait City Open universities